The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-04-28
Copyrighted, 1851,


1farshal Frey and Inspectsr Byrnes.
Copyrighted, 1877
Outside Of dozen men In this c0un-
try to-day, II 10 not known Grover Cleve-
land was inaugurated President Of the
United States under the surveillance Of
Gordon Of New York and Baltimore
detectives. The President himself does
not know this and for the first time is
the fact published. The intense excite
ment found In every State when It was
known Democratic executive had been
elected, is fresh in recollection. The
thought Of Guiteau brought up the ugly
spectre of assassination % Q possibility
and there were rumors or imaginings that
alarmed the committee of Washington
Democrats having in charge the arrange
ments for the Inauguration. Some Of
them were in receipt Of letters Of the
most threatening character. Several
limited at q conspiracy to prevent Cleve.
land taking Office. Again, It was reported
to some Democratic members of Congress
that an intense opposition was mani
tested toward the successful candidate
and that men in some Of the depart
ments at Washington were in collusion
with dangerous element that had gath
cred in the city. The effect Of this in
formation ON the minds of some Of the
committee was such that they decided
to take special measures Of precaution.
A prominent Democratic official went
to the marshal Of police Of Baltimore,
Jacob Frey, q little smiling-faced man,
than whom, 1t is said, there is no shrewder
detective in this country, and interested
him in the matter. A rule of the Balti-
more police force forbids him or any
other member OF 1t leaving the Monu-
mental City without leave of absence.
The board Of police commissioners was
approached through one Of its members
and permission was obtained for Frey to
go to Washington with such picked men
as he saw fit to take with him. Two
patrolmen, Edward Meehan and John
Pumphrey, stout, athletic fellows of
acknowledged prowess and courage, who
had done detective work in Baltimore at
times, were chosen by the chief Of police
and together the trio went to Washing
ton. In the meantime Inspector Thomas
Byrnes, of New York, had been consulted
and readily agreed to help the Baltimore
men all he could. Daily he wrote Mar.
shall Frey, giving him the movements Of
certain persons likely to reach Washing
ton and furnishing ''tips'' and other in
formation likely to be of assistance. The
Baltimoreans cleyerly hid their business.
They went heartily to work and subdi-
vided the city Of Washington into dis.
tricts and each took one to inspect. The
first point of investigation was the de-
partments. They were able to strike up
acQuaintances with clerks and even heads
of bureaus. The detectives ate with them,
drank with them, and in few instances
lodged in the same house with some Of
them. No thought Of suspicion crossed
the minds of the offlceho1ders, for the
Baltimore men represented themselves ~
custom-house officers, postal agents OF
secret service fellows, as the case might
be. Another incentive to quick friend
ship was the liberality with which
they spent their money. Not in
Washington alone, but In every
other city, the chap who puts up
his money for champagne and dinners
easily gains the name OF "a good fellow
From day to day Marshal Frey reported
the success of his efforts to the members
Of the Inauguration COMMITTEES. He found
q great deal of treacherous talk and
q, cI fv< hsSk {v,
individual capacities. Nowhere could he
the Inauguration of President Cleveland
The lower classes Of the city, wharf
loungers, friends of thieves and gamblers
and all others having anything whatever
to do with criminal classes, were next
turned up" but nothing beyond expires.
sions similar to those heard in the depart.
ments were discovered. The resorts and
houses of colored people were then
shaken down" with the same result as
In former investigations. For many days
this investigation was kept up. The
hotel, the Arlington, where President
Cleveland lodged before the ceremonies
was looked over. The room assigned
him underwent Q close inspection, and
care was taken that by NO sort of trick
or contrivsnce could he be gotten ct to do
him harm. The means Of ingress and
egress, doorways and windows as well a
all avenues Of approach were noted. The
detectives registered at the hotel, and
after reconnoitering the premises map.
ped out plans to know and meet the
guests stopping there. No one was
allowed to escape attention until hif
record was known.
On the night of March 8, 1885, at Jer'
sey City, President Cleveland and party
boarded train for Washington. Ex
cepting Q member of the Inauguration
arrangement committee who had come
ON to 60 with the company back to the
Capitol, not one in the coach knew that
the fne-looking, handsomely-dresse
gentleman who sat in one of the real
seats, his dancing black eyes covering In
their quick movements all present, was
Inspector Byrnes and the two who were
with him were detectives Cosgrove ani
6levin, of New York. President Cleveland
hardly knows so this day. All idea ol
police surveillance was hid from him, be
cause of his antipathy to such things
To his friends he had expressed M
thoughts of fear. Therefore 1t was tina
the precautions taken were withliel(
from him. The train reached Washing
tOn ahO,lt aiY O'clock the mnYninO NJ TN